The Air Quality Blog by Rabbit Air

Spring is in the air, but that means so is plant pollen. For many, spring indicates the start of something fresh and new, but for allergy sufferers, it is the start of wheezing, coughing, and other dreaded symptoms. However, with some simple spring cleaning, you can banish many allergens lurking in your home and pave the way for a happier and healthier season.

One great way to spruce up your home is by decorating with plants. Before you go running for the tissues, consider buying some air-purifying plants that are a great way to refresh the room, while adding a spring-like touch. According to a recent article in DNAinfo, aloe and spider plants are the way to go to bring a bit of relief so that you can enjoy the warmer weather.

While you are redecorating, throw away that old shower curtain! If you are using a vinyl shower curtain, it is easy for soap scum to build up on it. Try switching to nylon, organic cotton, or polyester that can be easily washed.

If you are allergic to mold, the fridge can be a hidden enemy. Make sure there are no hidden leaks, which can lead to mold build up, and that old food is disposed of, making room for all the delicious in season fruits and vegetables.

With just a few simple tips, you can alleviate your allergy symptoms and make your household a place of calm and comfort.

If you suffer from allergies, you know that springtime brings more than just warm weather. It also brings air that makes you itch, sneeze, cough, and twitch. While you may not be able to combat the outdoor air, an air purifier is an easy way to clean up your indoor spaces where you spend most of your time.

What Is an Allergy?An allergy is the body’s overreaction to an outside substance. When you have an allergic reaction, your immune system tries to fight off the foreign material, causing sneezing, wheezing, nasal discharge, coughing, and itching of the skin or airways.

Mild allergies can cause considerable discomfort, but serious sufferers may experience chronic respiratory illnesses like asthma or sinusitis. In severe cases, allergies can even be fatal. An allergic reaction may be caused by an insect bite or a certain food, drug, or synthetic substance. However, the most common allergic reactions occur from airborne particles.

Air and AllergiesBreathable air is primarily composed of oxygen, nitrogen, and argon gases. The air is also filled with unnatural byproducts from burning fossil fuels, as well as natural substances like pollen from trees and grasses. These particles cause major discomfort for allergy sufferers. Rhinitis and sinusitis are two of the most common allergic diseases. In fact, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America estimates that nearly 40 million Americans suffer from one or both conditions.

The Allergic DefenseThe human body naturally resists airborne particles in attempt to prevent them from entering your lungs. Your nose and trachea, for example, are lined with tiny hairs called cilia. These hairs serve to filter and trap particles before they enter your body. The walls of your airways also produce mucus in order to keep the pathways moist enough to collect particles that are passing through.

Under normal circumstances, these defense mechanisms work behind the scenes. If you suffer from allergies, however, your system goes into overdrive and mistakes natural particles for foreign substances. This triggers the release of histamine, which is the body’s natural inflammatory response. The blood vessels begin to dilate and the airways produce an excess amount of mucus. This is when the itching, coughing, and sneezing begin.

Cleaner Air Means Milder SymptomsAllergies affect people worldwide, especially during the spring season when flowers are blooming and the pollen count is high. While there are plenty of anti-histamine medications that help slow these defenses, you may find that cleaning the air in your living spaces gives you the best relief. By filtering your air before you breathe it, you are exposed to a much lower amount of defense-triggering particles. Air purifying units draw in polluted air from indoor spaces and trap those particles and contaminates onto micro filters. Some systems even incorporate several layers to make filtration more effective.

Moreover, many air purifiers use HEPA filters, which are held to strict government standards. Made of stainless steel, a true HEPA filter traps 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 micrometers.

Buying an Air PurifierAllergy sufferers looking for an effective air purifier should consider the following:

Choose a purifier that is designed to run continuously. This is the best way to ensure your air is always clean.

Use a HEPA filter to trap smaller particles.

Ensure a high CADR rating for larger areas.

Go for high efficiency. Most allergy suffers do best with an air exchange rate of at least 4. This means your room’s air is being cleaned every 15 minutes.

Clean air means a better way of life, especially for people with allergies. Modern air purifiers are a great way to fight these conditions before they even begin.

Let us help you choose the correct air purifier for your needs. Our knowledgeable, friendly and honest customer service representatives are available to you 24 hours a day. Just contact us or call 888.866.8862.

The spring brings beautiful things – warmer weather, bright blue skies, and blooming flowers. Unfortunately, it is also the prime time of year for seasonal allergies, and the sneezing, itching, and congestion that accompanies them. Seasonal allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as Hay Fever, occurs throughout the year whenever grasses, trees, or weeds are in bloom, but are at their worst during the Spring and Summer. Unlike flowers, which usually produce heavier pollen to be carried by bees, these plants produce lighter pollens that spread by floating through the air. It is a great strategy for the plants but not as nice for us as these pollens can trigger allergic reactions when we breathe them in. As many as 40 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies – that’s a lot of runny noses!

Luckily, there are several different strategies for coping with this kind of allergy. Many people take over the counter anti-histamines to relieve their symptoms, and there are even some prescription medications that can help if the allergy is severe. In addition to these medicines, allergists recommend changing clothes when you come home or even taking a shower in case pollens have snuck in on your clothing or skin. Once at home, you can use an air purifier with a HEPA filter, such as our MinusA2, to clean the air and keep pollen at bay. If you want to enjoy the beauty of the spring while staying smart about pollen, you may want to keep aware of daily pollen counts by using an app for your Smartphone or going to a website with an allergy specific weather forecast. Pollen counts tend to be highest in the morning, so you may find yourself breathing better if you save your springtime outings for the evening.